Best home warranty companies
When it comes to an uptick in homebuyer interest, spring and summer tend to be the most active seasons — and there are a few good reasons for the uptick. Not only is the weather much better in most markets than it is in the fall or the winter, but for many families, the kids are on summer vacation, too. And, when you add in the longer days that the spring and summer offer, it's a recipe for a much less stressful way to buy a home.
But the warm sunshine and carefree family vibe that the peak spring and summer seasons offer aren't the only way to reduce stress during the homebuying process. Having a home warranty in place can also help to reduce stress when buying a home. After all, the right home warranty can help cover the costs of common repairs around your house, keeping your out-of-pocket costs down, should something go awry,
Before you purchase a home warranty on your new property, though, it's important to know which companies offer the best options to protect your home. To help you get started, we'll break down the best home warranty companies to consider using now on the list below.
Best home warranty companies
Here are some of the best home warranty companies to choose from based on five categories. All quotes in this article used a 2,000-square-foot single-family home in Houston's 77386 ZIP code.
- Best for roofs: Select Home Warranty
- Best for HVACs: American Home Shield
- Best for appliances: Liberty Home Guard
- Best for price: America's 1st Choice Home Club
- Best for starter plans: Cinch
Best for roofs: Select Home Warranty
For roof coverage, your best bet is Select Home Warranty, which includes free roof coverage with every plan level. This covers leak repairs in occupied parts of the house, like your bedroom or living room, for example.
The basic plans start at $44 per month, but if you want both appliances and household systems coverage, you'll need the platinum plan, which runs $47.75 per month (the cheapest all-in plan on this list, according to our quotes). The company also offers unlimited covered repairs during your coverage term.
Best for HVACs: American Home Shield
American Home Shield takes the cake for HVAC coverage. Not only does its premium plan cover unlimited refrigerant, but it also throws in an annual HVAC tune-up to ensure your system is in good order.
Plans range from $39 per month to $69 per month and coverage goes up to $50,000. On the premium plan, you can get up to $7,000 in coverage per appliance.
Best for appliances: Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard is a good choice if you're looking for appliance coverage. Its appliance-only plan costs about $50 per month, while its all-in policy is about $60 per month.
Liberty's plans cover the same appliance repairs as other providers, but it also offers a slew of add-on appliance coverages as well. You can tack on coverage for higher-grade appliances or even appliance-specific coverage for things like hot water dispensers, wine coolers, second fridges, water filtration systems, water softeners and stand-alone freezers, just to name a few.
Best for price: America's 1st Choice Home Club
America's First Choice Home Club wins for lowest cost home warranty company. AFC's basic appliance plan starts at just $33, while its built-in household systems policy is just $41, according to our quote. AFC's all-in package, which includes appliances, systems, plumbing stoppages, fans, faucets, water heaters, and more, is only $53 per month.
Best for starter plans: Cinch
If you're new to the home warranty world, Cinch can be a good option. It offers customizable deductibles between $100 and $150, and prices range from $39 to $55 per month, depending on how much coverage you want. Cinch even includes up to a $500 reimbursement for your home insurance deductible (as long as you purchase the "Complete Home" plan).
Shop around for your home warranty coverage
Every company has different pricing strategies, so you should always compare several options when taking out a home warranty or insurance policy. If you're not sure which is best for your needs, you can also ask your real estate agent. They often recommend home warranties to clients and may be able to point you in the right direction.
